Suspension means for load handling equipment

ABSTRACT

A freight container is handled by a crane or carrier by means of a spreader frame engaging with the container. The spreader frame is suspended from the carrier by vertical links which can swivel relative to the carrier and can be easily detached from the spreader frame. Hydraulic jacks move the spreader frame relative to the carrier to align it with the container.

' O ilnlted States Patent 1191 1111 3,724,891 Brickley [451 Apr. 3, 1973[541 SUSPENSION MEANS FOR LOAD 3,171,681 3/1965 Roller ..294/67 RHANDLING EQUIPMENT 2,478,192 8/1949 Harker ..294/67 DA 3,589,540 6/1971Kinross ..214/621 [7 Inventor: Terence y, Camwck, England 3,513,9995/1970 Schwartz et a1. ..214/394 [73] Assignee: Rubery, Owen & Co.,Limited, Darlaston, wednesbury England FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS p14 1,370,101 7/1964 France ..294/73 [211 App! 133393 PrimaryExaminer-Evon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-Johnny D. Cherry [30] ForeignApplication Priority Data Attorney--Scrivener, Parker, Scrivener andClarke A .21, 1970 G tB 't' ..l8,906 70 m am I 57 ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl...294/67 R, 294/67 DA A fr ight ontainer is handled by a crane orcarrier by [51] Int. Cl ..B66c 5/02 m ns of a spreader frame engagingwith the con- [58] Field of Search....294/67 R, 67 D, 67 DA, 81 R,tainer. The spreader frame is suspended from the car- 9 8- 3; 12/ 2,214/14, 15, rier by vertical links which can swivel relative to the 394carrier and can be easily detached from the spreader frame. Hydraulicjacks move the spreader frame rela- [56] References Cited tive to thecarrier to align it with the container.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 3,570,695 3/1971Schwartz ..2l4/394 PATENTEDAPR3 I975 SHEET 3 [IF 3 SUSPENSION MEANS FORLOAD HANDLING EQUIPMENT This invention relates to improvements insuspension means for load handling equipment such as equipment forhandling freight containers which, in the course of a journey, may haveto be picked up from and loaded on to different forms of transport.

The equipment in common use includes a carrier forming part of a gantrycrane, or a straddle type crane, or other overhead lifting means and aspreader frame which is suspended from the carrier and is adapted to beengaged with the container or the like. In picking up a container thespreader frame has to be accurately aligned with it and it is known toprovide means for adjusting the spreader frame relative to the carrier,but such means usually incorporate relatively slidable members orrollers and require considerable power to overcome the friction present.

According to our invention, in load handling equipment incorporating acarrier and a spreader frame the spreader frame is suspended from thecarrier by normally vertical links of which the upper ends have aswivelling engagement with the carrier. The lower ends have a releasableengagement with the spreader frame.

The spreader frame can thus be moved with a minimum of effort in anydirection in a substantially horizontal plane relative to the carrier.

Further, the spreader frame can be readily detached from the carrierwithout disturbing any of the lifting and lowering gear of the carrierif it is desired to fit a different spreader frame.

There will usually be four suspension links located adjacent to thecorners of the spreader.

Power-operated means may be provided for moving the spreader framesideways or slewing it relative to the carrier for lining upload-engaging means on the spreader frame with complementary parts ofthe container.

One embodiment of our invention will now be described as an example,with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic end elevation of a carrier and spreader framefor load handling equipment,

FIG. 2 is anend elevation partly in section of a link suspending thespreader frame from the carrier, and

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of part of FIG. 2.

FIG. I shows a carrier 1 comprising a rectangular frame lying in asubstantially horizontal plane and adapted to be raised and lowered bythe. hoisting mechanism 2 of a straddle type crane (not shown). Adjacentto each corner of the carrier 1 there is mounted the upper end of asuspension link 3, the lower end of which engages with a spreader frame4.

The suspension link 3 is shown in detail in FIGS. 2 and 3. The uppermounting for the link comprises an annular part-spherical seating 5 forthe complementary part-spherical surface of a bearing 6 which can rockin the seating. The screw-threaded upper end of the link 3 passesupwardly through a collar 7 having a spigot portion 8 extendingdownwardly through the bore of the bearing 6. A look nut 9 is screwedonto the link above the collar 7. The seating 5 and bearing 6 areaxially located with respect to an opening 10 in the carrier 1 by astrengthening plate 11 and an adaptor plate 12. A cover 13 for themounting is attached to the adaptor plate 12 by means of screws 14 and agrease nipple 15 v is provided. At its lower end the link 3 terminatesin an eye 16 to which a depending U-shaped shackle 17 is pivoted by apin 18. The shackle 17 is engaged over a headed boss 19 projectinghorizontally from the spreader frame 4 adjacent to a corner. The head onthe boss 19 is of a diameter greater than the width between the limbs ofthe shackle 17 but opposed vertical flats 21 are formed on the boss toallow the shackle to be passed over it, under load the closed lower end22 of the shackle l7 engaging the neck 23 of the boss 19 on the innerside of the head.

An L-shaped locking plate 24 is rotatably mounted on the inner part ofthe boss 19, one arm of the plate 24 normally lying immediately underthe closed lower end 22 of the shackle 17 so that the shackle cannot belowered to disengage it from the boss 19. The locking plate 24 is heldin the locking position by gravity and is provided with a handle 25 sothat it can be moved angularly clear of the shackle which can then bemoved downwardly and drawn outwardly off the boss.

An upstanding shouldered pin 26 is provided on the spreader frame 4towards each end of the frame on its longitudinal center line. The endof the carrier 1 shown in FIG. 1 is provided with an outwardlyprojecting bracket 27 having an elongated slot 28 adapted to receive thepin 26 at that end of the spreader frame so as to locate the frame in afore and aft direction relative to the carrier and to guide sidewaysmovement of the spreader frame relative to the carrier. The pin 26extends through the slot 28 and is received in an eye end fitting on thepiston rod of a double acting hydraulic jack 29. The cylinder of thejack 29 is universally connected to a bracket 31 secured to the end ofthe carrier 1 and arranged so that extension and retraction of the jack29 causes sideways movement of that end of the spreader frame.

A double-acting hydraulic jack 29 is similarly provided between theother end of the carrier 1 and the second pin 26, but in this case thereis no slot to receive and guide the pin on the spreader frame.

Extension or retraction of both jacks 29 simultaneously shifts thespreader frame 4 sideways relative to the carrier 1. Differentialoperation of the jacks 29 will cause the spreader frame 4 to be slewedrelative to the carrier 1. These movements of the spreader frame 4 areaccommodated by the universally mounted suspension link 3. Thisarrangement, which eliminates sliding and rolling bearings substantiallyreduces friction and consequently the power requirements for side-shiftand slewing.

The spreader frame 4 can be quickly and simply released from the carrier1 for replacement by, for example, a spreader of a different length forlifting a larger or shorter container. The hoist 2 is operated to lowerthe spreader frame 4 on to a supporting platform or to the ground. Theshackle locking .plates 24 are rotated to their unlocked positions andthe shackles 17 are slipped off the bosses 19. Any service connections,e.g., hydraulic hoses and electrical leads, between the carrier and thespreader frame are released and-the carrier can then be hoisted clear ofthe spreader frame which is left on the platform or on the ground. Thecrane can then be moved over a substitute spreader frame to which thecarrier is lowered for connection thereto. The side-shift slewing jacks29 are supported by brackets (not shown) on the carrier. 1, when aspreader frame 4 is not connected to the carrier, thus ensuring that thejacks 29 are correctly aligned in the horizontal plane to receive thepins 26 on the spreader frame when the carrier is lowered to the latterto pick it up.

If desired, strain gauges may be attached to or incorporated in thesuspension links so that they can act as load cells for indicating theweight of the container or other load. Alternatively, load cells may belocated between the part-spherical seatings 5 and the adaptor plate 12.

I claim:

1. Load handling equipment comprising a carrier, a spreader frame, fournormally vertical rigid links suspending the spreader frame from thecarrier, four seatings supported by the carrier, each seating having anupwardly facing part-spherical surface, four annular bearings eachhavinga complementary downwardly facing surface mating with one of saidseating surfaces, four collars each having a spigot portion extendingdownwardly through one of said bearings, the upper end of each linkextending through one of said collars and being provided with meanspreventing it being drawn downwardly through said collar, four headedbosses each projecting horizontally from the spreader frame, and ashackle fitted to the lower end of each link and releasably engaging oneof said bosses.

2. Load handling equipment as in claim 1 further comprising an L-shapedplate rotatably mounted on each boss with one arm extending outwardlyfrom the spreader frame, said arm normally lying under the shackle sothat the shackle cannot be disengaged from the boss.

3. Load handling equipment as in claim 1 wherein an upstanding pin onthe spreader frame passes through a slot in the carrier so as to locatethe frame in the fore and aft direction relative in the carrier, and anhydraulic jack connected between the carrier and the pin is operable tomove the frame relative to the carrier in a direction defined by theslot.

1. Load handling equipment comprising a carrier, a spreader frame, fournormally vertical rigid links suspending the spreader frame from thecarrier, four seatings supported by the carrier, each seating having anupwardly facing part-spherical surface, four annular bearings eachhaving a complementary downwardly facing surface mating with one of saidseating surfaces, four collars each having a spigot portion extendingdownwardly through one of said bearings, the upper end of each linkextending through one of said collars and being provided with meanspreventing it being drawn downwardly through said collar, four headedbosses each projecting horizontally from the spreader frame, and ashackle fitted to the lower end of each link and releasably engaging oneof said bosses.
 2. Load handling equipment as in claim 1 furthercomprising an L-shaped plate rotatably mounted on each boss with one armextending outwardly from the spreader frame, said arm normally lyingunder the shackle so that the shackle cannot be disengaged from theboss.
 3. Load handling equipment as in claim 1 wherein an upstanding pinon the spreader frame passes through a slot in the carrier so as tolocate the frame in the fore and aft direction relative in the carrier,and an hydraulic jack connected between the carrier and the pin isoperable to move the frame relative to the carrier in a directiondefined by the slot.